Method and apparatus for automated on-line printing service

ABSTRACT

A method is provided for operating an on-line retailing operation for retailing of at least one print product to a customer. The print product is supplied by a print merchant operation that displays plural image items for remote viewing by a customer. The print merchant operation transacts a first type of order with the customer for supply of at least one print product, and transacts a second type order with the print merchant for fulfillment of the first type order.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of printing, andparticularly, although not exclusively, to a method and apparatus forenabling an improved e-printing service solution.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Conventional print service facilities comprise one or a plurality ofprinters in a single physical location, e.g. a print shop or print room,which provide to a customer a printing service for posters, brochures,leaflets, copies of photographs and the like. Typically, a print servicefacility may comprise one or more large format printers capable ofprinting to large format size media, for example a HP DesignJet printer,and may comprise one or a plurality of smaller format printers, forexample HP laser jet printers for printing smaller format sizes, e.g. A4or similar.

Such printers may print images supplied by a customer on data carrier,for example CD ROM, floppy disk or the like. It is known for a printservice provider to provide direct to a customer an internet enableddriver for installation on a customer's own computer which is capable ofsending customer generated images from the customer's computer to acomputer at the print facility. Such systems are limited to single printcompanies providing proprietary internet enabled drivers to theircustomers, for using the facilities of the print service provider only.

Mediaflex.com (http://www.mediaflex.com) offer an internet accessibleprinting service using a standard web browser interface. This service isof the type provided by a single print service provider directly totheir customers.

Internet content retailer Barnes and Noble, offers posters for sale,which are supplied by print service provider Buynlarge, who provide acentralized printing facility in a single location. However, thisservice only supports limited print sizes.

Other companies having an Internet presence include Impress, andColleria, both of which act as on-line intermediaries for brokerage ofprint jobs, to match on-line print service buyers with print serviceproviders. However, this service is not fully automated and it is leftfor the buyers to contact the print service providers direct fortransfer of image content, and for invoicing purposes.

Similarly, the on-line company Iprint, provides an on-line service overthe internet for customizing business cards, promotional material andthe like. However, this service does not provide a fully automatedprinting service for on-line customers.

The known Mimeo service provides centralized printing, but is restrictedto serving US customers only, and provides small format prints,supporting only a single paper size.

Prior art on-line print service solutions are restricted to a smallnumber of individual print service providers offering on-line imagetransfer facilities to their customers, and without choice of printservice provider.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to utilize internetinfrastructure to create an on-line marketplace for print services, in amanner which balances the interests of a plurality of users of printservices, with the interests of a plurality of print service providersin an efficient manner.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an infrastructurefor print on demand services provided over the internet, with fullautomation of print ordering, including competitive tendering for printservices, and automated printing prior to delivery of prints to acustomer.

An automated print on demand service as disclosed herein, is accessibleover a communication network, for example the internet and matches aplurality of customers for print services to a plurality of printservice providers, satisfying orders for print services placed by thecustomers on-line over the network. Customers may include contentretailer website operators, providing a content selection made availableto the general public over the internet. For example, content retailwebsites may make available a series of images suitable for producinglarge format posters which can be ordered by the general public, or tosubscribers of the website using an e-commerce engine comprising thecontent retailer website. Other customers may include direct customerssuch as design agencies, marketing companies or the like who maygenerate repeat business for orders of print products.

A programmatic interface is provided to content retailer websites toenable those websites to fulfil requests for on-line printing via aprint merchant. The print merchant is responsible for sending thecontent to a selected print service provider who prints the demandedprint items. Prints are shipped to the user by a courier service. Theend user may be the customer themselves or who may be a person specifiedby the customer. The programmatic interface provided to the contentretailer websites comprises a set of libraries which facilitates theconnection of the website to the print merchant.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method of operating an on-line retailing operation for retailing of atleast one print product to a customer, said print product supplied by aprint merchant operation, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a plurality of image items for remote viewing by saidcustomer;

transacting an order of a first type with said customer for supply ofsaid at least one print product;

transacting an order of a second type with said print merchant forfulfillment of said first type order.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, there isprovided an on-line image content retailer operation, said on-line imagecontent retailer operation comprising at least one computer entitycapable of:

displaying a plurality of image items for remote viewing by a pluralityof customer terminals;

transacting orders of a first type for supply of print products with atleast one said customer terminal;

transacting orders of a second type for sourcing fulfillment of a saidfirst type order, with at least one print merchant.

The invention includes at least one computer entity capable of:

displaying a plurality of image items for remote viewing by a pluralityof customer terminals;

transacting orders of a first type for supply of print products with atleast one said customer terminal;

transacting orders of a second type for sourcing fulfillment of a saidfirst type order, with at least one print merchant.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided amethod of operating a print merchant operation for matching a pluralityof orders of a first type for print products, with a plurality of printservice provider operations capable of fulfilling said order, saidmethod comprising the steps of:

receiving a request for an order identification;

issuing an order identification in response to said request;

receiving a said order of a second type for supply of print products;

acknowledging said order;

selecting a print service provider operation from said plurality ofprint service provider operations;

placing an order of a third type with at least one said selected printservice provider, for ordering supply of said print products.

The invention includes at least one computer entity configured for:

receiving electronically, a plurality of orders of a second type, forsupply of at least one print product;

selecting a print service provider operation from a plurality of printservice provider operations; and

placing at least one order of a third type with at least one selectedsaid print service provider for ordering supply of said at least oneprint product.

In the specific implementations according to the present invention, thewhole process of transacting an order for print products, and arrangingthe printing of those products is handled automatically on-line. All thenecessary content information, orders, and specifications of printproducts are transmitted on-line automatically between computerentities, and a print service provider is automatically selected.

Other aspects of the invention are as recited in the claims attachedhereto.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same maybe carried into effect, there will now be described by way of exampleonly, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to thepresent invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates schematically an on-line distributed printing networkfor providing efficient allocation of print services to a plurality ofcustomers;

FIG. 2 illustrates schematically a physical view of part of an internetenabled print service provider business according to a specificimplementation of the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates schematically a logical overview of an on-linedistributed printing network according to the specific implementation ofthe present invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates schematically logical components implementing theon-line distributed print network of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 illustrates schematically components of a retail customerterminal, content retailer computer, print merchant computer, and printmanager computer comprising the distributed printing network of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 illustrates schematically a contract model representing aplurality of electronic contracts between computer entities comprisingthe distributed printing network of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a method of operation of a plurality ofcomputing entities comprising the distributed printing network of FIG.1, communicating to transact and fulfil an order for print productson-line;

FIG. 8 illustrates schematically components of a quote to a customermade by a content retailer computer;

FIG. 9 illustrates schematically a mode of operation of a contentretailer computer entity for receiving an order from a retail customerterminal, and satisfying that order by issuing an order to a printmerchant computer entity;

FIG. 10 illustrates schematically a first mode operation of a printmerchant computer entity for allocating identifications to receivedorders;

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically a second mode of operation of a printmerchant computer entity for production of quotations to other computerentities;

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically a third mode of operation of a printmerchant computer for receiving orders and checking that orders containvalid order identification codes;

FIG. 13 illustrates schematically a fourth mode of operation of a printmerchant computer for obtaining image data content on-line;

FIG. 14 illustrates schematically a structure of an order ticket XMLfile used by a print merchant computer entity for communicating withother computer entities;

FIG. 15 illustrates schematically an order control section of the orderticket file of FIG. 14;

FIG. 16 illustrates schematically a section describing what to print, ofthe order ticket document of FIG. 14;

FIG. 17 illustrates schematically a section of the order ticket documentof FIG. 14 defining how to print an order;

FIG. 18 illustrates schematically a section of the order ticketdocument, describing how to ship and where to ship an order; and

FIG. 19 illustrates schematically a mode of operation of a print managercomputer entity for receiving and fulfilling an electronically receivedorder for print products.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

There will now be described by way of example the best mode contemplatedby the inventors for carrying out the invention. In the followingdescription numerous specific details are set forth in order to providea thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparenthowever, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may bepracticed without limitation to these specific details. In otherinstances, well known methods and structures have not been described indetail so as not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention.

Whilst the following description applies to a plurality of computerentities communicating over the Internet, it will be understood by theperson skilled in the art, that in general such entities may communicateover any communications network, including virtual private networks(VPN's), local area networks (LAN's), mobile telecommunications networksor the like.

In this specification, the term ‘on-line’ used in the context ofcomputer entities or businesses, means a computer entity or business asappropriate, which can send and/or receive products and/or services inthe form of electronic data over a communications network. The computerentity and/or business may also be capable of carrying out transactionsover the communications link, in the form of exchanges of electronicdata with other computer entities or businesses, over the communicationsnetwork.

In this specification, the term ‘communications network’ includes anycommunications network over which a plurality of computer entities cancommunicate with each other by transfer of electronic data files. Suchnetworks include both packet switched and circuit switched networks, andhybrids of packet switched/circuit switched networks. Examples of suchnetworks include the internet, wide area networks (WAN's). Variousprotocols such as internet protocol (IP); asynchronous transfer mode(ATM); wireless application protocol (WAP) and the like may be used.

Referring to FIG. 1 herein, there is illustrated schematically aphysical architecture of an online distributed printing network forproviding printing services to a plurality of customer terminals 104, inresponse to a plurality of orders from customers, who may also be theend users. The network comprises a plurality of internet-enabled printservice providers 105-107 each capable of providing physical prints inresponse to orders for printed images; an internet-enabled printmerchant computer entity 100 for matching a plurality of orders forprint services to the plurality of print service providers 105-107; oneor a plurality of internet-enabled content provider computer entities101 capable of providing image data; a plurality of content retailercomputer entities 102, 103, each capable of receiving orders fromsubscribers, e.g. the general public, for printed images; and one or aplurality of courier service providers 117-119 acting to deliverphysical prints to specified end users.

Individual internet-enabled businesses may be characterized by theservice or product which they provide, and the type of computer entitywhich they utilize as follows:

-   -   A content retailer business, has a content retailer computer        entity 102, 103 and provides image content on-line to customers        by offering such content via a website. The customers, usually        direct retail customers e.g. members of the public, using        personal computers having web browsers may view web pages made        available at the content retailer computer entity, and may order        on-line prints of those images, using a known web site        e-commerce engine for handling payment details.    -   A content provider business has a content provider computer        entity 101, storing a plurality of image data, of interest to        individuals and businesses and deliverable on-line. For example,        a content provider business may provide a library of pictures,        in data format, stored in a database and made accessible over        the internet by a content provider computer entity 101.    -   A print merchant business, has a print merchant computer entity        100, and provides a service to business customers, direct retail        customers, content retailer websites and content providers, as        well as to one or more print service providers. For the content        retailer business, the print merchant allows conversion of        orders from subscribers to those content retailer business into        high quality prints which can be sold by the content retailer        websites, with reliability of print and delivery to end users.        For the content provider website, the print merchant business        offers the proposition to convert their image content into high        quality posters which the content retailer website can sell        direct to their on-line customers. The print merchant business        handles the printing and delivery service for the content        retailers business with reliability. For the print service        providers, the print merchant offers capture of printing demand        to keep the print service providers busy and provides assistance        in managing workflow automatically to the print service        provider. Print service providers are connected to print        merchant 100 by their print manager computers, which act as        e-servers 108-110. Each e-server allows a plurality of printing        devices 111-116 to be connected to the print merchant. For the        print service providers, the print merchant business offers the        proposition of capturing printing demand, particularly large        format printing demand for the print service providers, and        providing the equipment to help the print service provider        manage a print on-demand printing service to fulfil the demand,        managing workflow automatically within the print service        providers operation, and minimizing manual intervention.    -   A print service provider business comprises an on-line enabled        print manager computer entity 108-110, and one or a plurality of        printer devices 111-116, the print manager computer entity        capable of receiving orders from the print merchant computer        entity on-line, e.g. over the internet, and capable of receiving        on-line image data direct from the content provider computer        entity, content retailer entity, or print merchant entity.    -   Individual customer computer entities connect to the internet in        known manner using, for example, a modem, ISDN line, or the        like. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that        whilst communications between computer entities have been        described as being over the TCP/IP Internet, in the best mode,        the invention is not restricted to such means of communications,        but may make use of any suitable communications network or a        mixture of network links, including, but not limited to, virtual        private networks (VPN's), local area networks (LAN's), wide area        networks (WAN's), using any suitable routing and/or transport        protocols.    -   A customer terminal 104 may include any computer entity capable        of sending an order for print products or print services to a        print merchant business 303 or a content retailer business 302.        Customer terminals may be categorized into two basic types:        firstly, those without the facility to directly order print        products or services from print merchant computer entity 100.        Herein after these terminals are referred to as retail customer        terminals. Secondly, customer terminals having means for        ordering print products or services directly from print merchant        computer entity 100 herein after this type of customer terminal        will be referred to as a business customer terminal. Business        customer terminals are enabled to send image data directly over        an on-line communication, e.g. the internet, to print service        manager computer 100, as well as give orders for print products        and services. Retail customer terminals typically comprise a        personal computer or the like, equipped with a web browser as        are known in the prior art. A retail customer terminal may        include a special terminal having a touch-sensitive screen, and        dedicated application software to drive the touch-sensitive        screen, provided at a retail location, whereby members of the        public may order print products using the touch-sensitive        screen, which orders are then communicated on-line to a print        merchant computer entity. Instead of using an internet browser,        the special application software replaces the browser and is        configured to be easier to navigate than a browser by members of        the general public.    -   Content provider computer entity 101 comprises a database        storing a plurality of digital image content data representing a        plurality of images, and an internet compatible communications        interface, making available the digital image content data over        a communications link.    -   Print merchant computer entity 100 comprises a server computer        capable of communicating on-line with the plurality of print        service providers 105-107, one or a plurality of content        provider computers 101, one or a plurality of content retailer        computer entity 102,103, one or a plurality of business customer        terminals, and optionally one or a plurality of server computers        belonging to one or a plurality of respective courier        businesses.

Referring to FIG. 2 herein there is illustrated schematically a view ofone example of a print service provider facility 105. Print serviceprovider facility 105 comprises at least one print manager computerentity 200, one or a plurality of printer devices 201-203 for printingout print products encompassing images received via print manager 200,the plurality of printers printing out under control of print manager200 which automatically allocates print jobs to individual printers,depending upon a media type loaded on the printer, and according toalgorithms for efficient utilization of print media and printerresources. Additionally, the print service provider facility comprises afinishing department, not shown in FIG. 2, for applying special finishesto print products, for example lamination, gloss finishes or the like;and a shipping department for packaging orders of print products intopackaging, for example roll tubes, boxes or plastics, envelopes.

The plurality of printer devices 201-203 may provide a selection ofdifferent printer devices capable of handling different sizes of printmedia. Each printer device receives instructions for printing of images,as well as image data itself from the print manager computer 200according to print orders received over the internet by print managercomputer 200. Print manager 200, additionally prints out instructions tohuman operators, in the form of paper work order sheets and packingslips containing labels, to enable human operators to collect printproducts from the plurality of printer devices, and to efficientlyprocess the print products through the finishing department and shippingdepartment. The instructions may be printed via a locally connectedperipheral printer 204, e.g. a HP LaserJet device or similar.

Referring to FIG. 3 herein, there is illustrated schematically a logicalarchitecture of the on-line distributed printing network shown in FIG. 1herein. Various types of customer are envisaged. A first type ofcustomer 300 (a retail customer) includes members of the general publicaccessing the internet by conventional manner, typically using apersonal computer, or equivalent type computer 301 equipped with aconventional web browser facility or a specifically designed retailterminal having a touch-sensitive screen. The retail customer 300 surfsthe world wide web to find a website 302 provided by a content retailerbusiness. The customer selects an image content, e.g. a poster from thewebsite, and the content retailer 302 then instructs print merchantbusiness 303 to provide and deliver one or more posters to an end user304 specified by the customer who may be the customer themselves, or athird party specified by the customer by placing an order at contentretailer website 302. Image data for the content, i.e. the image orderby the customer 300, may be provided from an internal database at thecontent retailer website 302, or via an external content provider 305who may send that image data over the internet to content retailerwebsite 302, or direct to print merchant 303, as instructed by an orderfrom content retailer website 302 to print merchant 303.

In one mode of operation the print service provider may obtain imagecontent data from the print merchant computer. In another mode ofoperation, the print service provider may obtain image content datadirectly from a content provider or content owner, using an addresssupplied by the print merchant computer entity. Having received an orderfrom content retailer website 302, print merchant 303 selects one ormore of a plurality of print service provider businesses 306-308, basedupon criteria of:

-   -   Ability of print service provider to fulfil the order.    -   Availability of print service provider to fulfil the order.    -   Price quoted by the print service provider(s) for fulfilling the        order.    -   Any other contractual terms which the print merchant business        303 holds with one or more of the print service provider        businesses 306-308.

A print service provider receiving an order from print merchant 303fulfils that order by printing the necessary print products specified inthe order, and ships these to the end user 304 using a courier business309.

A second type of customer 310 may include business customers, forexample graphics design businesses, advertising agencies, architecturalpractices, or any professional or manufacturing service or businessrequiring flexible printing services, and operating graphics softwarepackages capable of generating image data for printing in electronicformat. Business customers 310 differ from retail customers 300 in thatthey may interact directly with print merchant business 303 by means ofa driver interface 311 supplied by print merchant business 303 enablinga business customer's in-house graphics computer 312 to communicatedirectly with a print merchant computer entity at the print merchantbusiness 303. Business customers 310 may generate their own imagecontent through their in-house graphics software, which may be sent toprint merchant business 303 in order to fulfil a business customer orderfor printed products incorporating image data supplied by the businesscustomer.

Referring to FIG. 4 herein, there is illustrated schematically logicalcomponents required to implement the on-line distributed printingnetwork of FIG. 1, in one implementation. The logical components maycomprise applications programs suitable for installation intoconventional general purpose computers, to adapt those computers toperform the functions of a business customer terminal, a contentprovider computer entity, a content retailer computer entity, a printmanager computer entity, and a print merchant computer entity. Logicalcomponents may include a business customer interface application 400,for interfacing with a customer's own graphics application, a contentretailer interface application 401 for interfacing the content retailercomputer entity with the print merchant computer entity; a printmerchant application resident in the print merchant computer entity 100for carrying out the functions of the print merchant computer entity;and a print manager application 403 resident in print manager a computerentity 107, enabling operation of that computer entity. In otherimplementations, the logical entities 400-403 may be provided asapplication specific integrated circuits in embodiments of computerentities which are not based upon general purpose computers, but arecustom built. However, the logical entities are optimally implemented asapplications which can be incorporated into the various computerentities.

Referring to FIG. 5 herein, there is illustrated schematicallycomponents of a retail customer terminal 500, content retailer computer501, a print merchant computer entity 502, and a print manager computerentity 503.

Retail customer computer entity comprising a communications port 504, aprocessor 504 with associated memory 506, an operating system 507, forexample Unix®, Linux®, Microsoft NT/2000®, a data storage device 508, eg. a hard disk drive or similar, a user interface 509 and a web browserapplication 510.

The retail customer computer entity, instead of a web browser, maycomprise a special application designed to be user friendly, and easierto use than a web browser, for driving a touch-sensitive screen providedas part of the retail computer entity. This type of entity may beprovided at retail locations, with a permanent on-line connection to aprint merchant computer.

Content retailer computer 501 comprises communications port 511, aprocessor 512, with associated memory 513, a conventional operatingsystem 514, a data storage device 515 and optionally user interface 516including a visual display unit, keyboard and pointing device, and acontent retailer application 517.

Print merchant computer entity 502 comprises a communications ports 518,a processor 519, with associated memory 520, an operating system 521, adata storage device 522, for example an hard disk drive or RAID array,optionally a user interface 523 including visual display unit, keyboard,pointing device, e.g. a mouse or trackball, and a print merchantapplication 524.

Print manager computer entity 502 comprises a communications port 525for communicating with other computer entities on-line; a processor 526;memory 527, including random access memory and read only memory; anoperating system 528, e.g. Linux®, Unix®, Windows NT/Windows 2000®; adata storage device 529 e.g. hard disk drive, RAID array or the like; auser interface 530 enabling a human operator to interact with the printmanager computer, the user interface comprising a visual display unit,keyboard and a pointing device, e.g. a mouse, trackball or similar; anda print manager application 531 acting as a e-server for communicatingwith print merchant computer entity and for controlling locally aplurality of printer devices and other resources within a print serviceprovider facility.

Referring to FIG. 6 herein, there is illustrated schematically acontract model describing a plurality of electronic contracts heldbetween different business entities comprising the distributed printingnetwork of FIG. 1. In general, for the computer entities to transactwith each other, the businesses operating those computer entities havepre-negotiated contracts with each other which act as a defaultcondition, in case of malfunction of any of the computer entities, or incase of dispute. Those up front contracts may be stored as electronicdata in databases at each of the computer entities, and those contractsform the basis for quotations made between computer entities, which takeinto account trade offs between price, volume and other businessconsiderations. Individual electronic contracts between businessentities are stored in the respective computer entities operated bythose business as electronic contract data. Electronic transactions aregoverned according to the contracts stored in the individual computerentities. A retail customer 600 enters into a retail contract 601 with acontent retailer 602 via that content retailer's website. Details ofthat contract are stored in the content retailers database 603 in acontent retailer computer entity. Also stored in the content retailer'sdatabase 603 may be one or a plurality of contracts with one or morecontent providers 604 for the provision of data image content, soldthrough the content retailer website. A contract between a contentretailer and a content provider may include data describing thefollowing parameters:

-   -   A quantity of images to be supplied in a given time period    -   A price for each image up to the quantity    -   A time for delivery of an image data on-line    -   One or more logical addresses of one or more print merchants, to        which image data is to be transmitted on-line.

Content provider 604 may store a plurality of contracts with a pluralityof content retailers in a local database 605 of a content providerscomputer entity. Each contract may involve data describing parameters aslisted above, with the specific details of each contract differing fromcontract to contract.

Print merchant 605 stores a plurality of contracts with a plurality ofretailer computer entities, in a local database 606 of a print merchantcomputer entity. A contract between a print merchant computer entity anda content retailer computer entity may include data describingparameters comprising:

-   -   Definition of print products, including:        -   print media        -   ink type        -   finishes        -   physical size of a print product    -   A plurality of delivery areas for delivery of prints    -   A plurality of prices based upon the above parameters    -   Any special discounts to be applied to a content retailer

The print merchant computer entity and the content retailer computerentity each keep a copy of a contract between that corresponding contentretailer and print merchant business in their respective local databases603, 606. In general, a print merchant business has a plurality ofcontracts with a plurality of different content retailer websites, thespecific details of each contract differing for different contentretailers. The print merchant computer entity 605 also stores aplurality of contracts with a plurality of print service providers inelectronic form in the local database 606. A contract between a printmerchant computer entity and a print service provider may include datadescribing parameters comprising:

-   -   Definition of print products, including:        -   print media        -   ink type        -   finishes        -   physical size of a print product    -   A plurality of delivery areas for delivery of prints    -   A plurality of prices based upon the above parameters    -   Any special discounts to be applied to a print merchant    -   A time period for delivery of a print product

A copy of the print merchant-print service provider contract may bestored in a local database 606 at a print merchant computer entity andat a local database 608 at a print manager computer entity of a printservice provider. Each print merchant entity has a plurality ofdifferent contracts with a plurality of different print serviceproviders. Similarly, each print service provider may have a pluralityof different contracts with a plurality of print merchants. A printservice provider can have more than one contract with a single printmerchant.

Each print service provider may have a plurality of contracts with aplurality of courier delivery services 609. A courier delivery servicemay be provided with a courier delivery service computer entity foraccepting orders electronically. An electronic contract between a printservice provider and a courier delivery service entity may be stored ina local database 608 of a print manager computer entity as well as alocal database 610 of a courier service delivery computer entity. Anelectronic contract between a print service provider and a courierdelivery service may comprise data describing the following parameters:

-   -   A set of delivery areas covered    -   An amount of weight which packages can be    -   A packaging type which can be sent    -   A type of delivery, e.g. 24 hours, 48 hours etc.    -   A cost for delivery

In a further implementation, a print merchant 605 may have an electroniccontract with one or a plurality of courier delivery services 609, aswell as contracts with a plurality of print service providers, andcontent retailers 602. Print products may be delivered by a courierdelivery service under a contract with the print merchant, rather thanunder a contract directly with a print service provider 607.

Referring to FIG. 7 herein, there is illustrated schematically a methodof operation of a plurality of computer entities communicating on-lineto fulfil a demand for print products from a retail customer at a retailcustomer terminal, by supplying printed products from a print serviceprovider operating a print manager computer entity as described hereinabove, the customer selecting a printed product from a content retailerwebsite operating a content retailer computer as described herein, andthe service being provided via a print merchant operating a printmerchant computer as described herein before.

The process in FIG. 7 illustrates particularly operation of the printmerchant computer entity 100, and a content retailer computer entity 102and interaction between the content retailer interface application 401and print merchant application 402 to secure and supply an order for oneor more print products. In step 700, a retail customer locates a contentretailer website, and interacts with the website to order one or moreprint products. The user fills in text fields presented by the contentretailer website, describing the order. Data collected by the websitemay comprise:

-   -   Media type, describing the type of media in which the print        product is to be printed, including:        -   the ink type, e.g. outdoors, indoors, or textile        -   type of media sheet material        -   a width and height dimension of the media    -   Number of copies of print products    -   A shipping address to send the print products to    -   A URL address of the retail customer terminal to send        confirmation of shipping to    -   A contact email address    -   A contact telephone number    -   A name of person to deliver the print products to

The website sends the collected data from the print merchant.Additionally, the website may generate data and send this to the printmerchant including:

-   -   A content identification data identifying a content of an image        to be printed    -   A description of the print product in text format    -   A price at which the retail customer has ordered the print        product from the content retailer business.

Communication between the customer terminal, content retailer computer,print merchant computer and print manager computer is by way of transferof XML files using the HTTP protocol. Basic types of messages being aresent include:

-   -   Order identifications    -   Orders    -   Quotes    -   Notifications

Whenever a customer, via their customer terminal, wishes to place anorder with the content retailer website, the content retailer websitebuilds an order document in XML, which defines the customer's order, andwhich is sent to the print merchant computer. The content retailercomputer requests an order identification from the print merchantcomputer to identify the XML order document. The order identificationacts as a reference for that transaction. The content retailer computermay then request a quote for satisfying the order from the printmerchant computer. Any changes made to the specification of the order bythe customer via the customer terminal may result in the contentretailer computer requesting one or more further quotes from the printmerchant computer, as the specification of the order changes. In arequest for quote, the content retailer computer sends all parametersdefining how the order has to be satisfied, including details of how theprint products are to be manufactured and where they are to be shippedto. The print merchant computer responds with a price quotation message,representing the price which the print merchant will charge the contentretailer for satisfying the order. The content retailer website,optionally may quote the price from the print merchant computer directlyto the customer, in which case the content retailer computer may add amark up or fixed cost from the content retailer for providing theservice. Alternatively, the content retailer may quote a single price tothe customer without a breakdown analysis.

The content retailer computer sends an order identification messageorderid.jsp to the print merchant computer, requesting an orderidentification code orderid, which the print merchant computer sends tothe content retailer computer. The order identification code is treatedas being valid by the print merchant computer for a predetermined time,typically for example 24 hours from its generation. Any orders receivedby the print merchant computer using that order identification codeafter the predetermined time will be rejected as being invalid. An orderidentification code forms the basis for any transaction between acontent retailer computer entity and a print merchant computer. Withouta valid order identification code, no quoting of prices by the printmerchant computer, or submission of orders by the content retailercomputer can occur. Any communication received by the print merchantcomputer which has an invalid order identification will be rejected, andwill generate an administrative alert at the print merchant computerentity. On receiving an invalid order identification code, printmerchant computer sends a notification to the content retailer computerto which the order identification code was issued, and human supportoperators at the print merchant computer request human intervention atthe content retailer business, to fix the problem of received ordershaving invalid order identification codes. If an invalid orderidentification code is received by the print merchant computer, thenthis is indicative of a malfunction at a content retailer computer.

In step 703 the content retailer computer requests a quote for an orderfor print products which it has received from a retail customer, andsends a quotation message quote.jsp to the print merchant computer. Theprint merchant computer provides a real-time quoting mechanism, whichgives accurate manufacturing and shipping quotes to the content retailercomputers. The quote.jsp ordering message prompts the print merchantcomputer to generate a quotation for the specified order. On receiving aquotation for an order, the content retailer computer adds a royalty ormark-up, and then presents the final result as a sale price to theretail customer via the content retailer computer' website.

Some content retailer computers may be configured to set their pricesquoted to retail customer using estimates of prices stored in theretailer customer contract in database 603 of that content retailer.However, if a content retailer computer does make an estimate on thisbasis, and the contract is not a latest version, then the contentretailer computer could find that a price quoted by the print merchantcomputer is higher than expected. Where a content retailer computermakes an estimate to a customer terminal, then the step 703 ofrequesting a quote from the print merchant computer, and receiving thatquote in step 704 is unnecessary. Whenever a customer changes any ordersetting on the content retailer website interface, the content retailercomputer repeats steps 703 and 704 to obtain a new quotation from theprint merchant computer. In step 705 the content retailer computerdisplays its own quotation to the customer terminal, and in step 706 thecustomer accepts the quotation by the content retailer computer andsends an order message to the content retailer computer. The contentretailer computer sends an order confirmation back to the customerterminal in step 707.

Content retailer computer returns control to the user browserimmediately after displaying an order confirmation summary page to thecustomer terminal. The content retailer computer submits an order to theprint merchant computer after displaying the order confirmation to thecustomer terminal. Normally this would run as a separate thread fromcontent retailer computer to print merchant computer in order to avoidblocking the website displayed by the content retailer computer, waitingfor a response. However, in a best mode, a pull transfer mode forcontent retailer computer content is used. That is the content retailercomputer communicates to the print merchant computer where to downloadcontent from. The print merchant computer may then obtain content from acontent provider computer 101. This approach allows the print merchantcomputer to perform download queue management, error auto recovery,caching, and avoid network congestion, whilst simplifying implementationrequirements for the print merchant application 402. Because of the pullmode, the print merchant computer may run a simple CGI after thetransaction with the customer terminal, which submits an order in step708 to the print merchant computer. Because no large data transfers areinvolved in the order submission between the content retailer computerand the print merchant computer, there is no need for a content retailercomputer server task which submits orders in the background. Contentretailer computers submitting orders to the print merchant computer willreceive a quote document as a reply in step 709. This quote documentwill reflect the exact amount that the print merchant computer willcharge the content retailer computer for processing the submitted order.When this quote document is received by the content retailer computer,it can check that the previously quoted price in step 704 is the same asthat in the quote document received in step 708. The content retailercomputer sends a HTTP POST request print.jsp instructing the printmerchant computer to print an order. This consists of an XML electronicdocument which contains a plurality of all order settings needed by theprint merchant computer to process the order for print products. Inresponse to the POST message, the print merchant computer returns an XMLdocument which contains the price quotation for the given order. Thequotation provides an accurate manufacturing and shipping price estimateto the content retailer computer, taking care of media size, number ofcopies, media weight, shipping destination and other order parameters.If the content retailer computer did not change the details of theorder, but the two quotes do not match, then this is indicative of aproblem, and this may raise an alert signal at the content retailercomputer. The returned quote document received by the content retailercomputer in step 709 is used by the content retailer computer where thecontent retailer computer has made a quotation to a customer terminalbased upon the stored contract data in the contract between the contentretailer and print merchant computers if the received quote from theprint merchant in step 709 is higher than initially expected, this maygive rise to an alarm situation at the content retailer computer.Irrespective of whether the order from the print merchant computer ishigher than expected or not, the content retailer computer is bound byits quotation given to the customer terminal and must fulfil an orderfrom the customer terminal, even if this is unsatisfactory or lossmaking to the content retailer.

The print merchant computer selects a print manager computer accordingto an algorithm stored within print merchant application 402. Once theprint merchant computer has selected a print service provider and theprint service provider has accepted the order, the print merchantcomputer downloads the content specified in the order document from thecontent retailer computer. Content need not be downloaded immediately,but ideally is downloaded within 24 hours of receiving the order. Thecontent can be downloaded from the content retailer computer itself instep 711, where the content retailer computer obtains content fromcontent provider 604, or can be downloaded directly from the contentprovider 604 by the print merchant 605. Content should be stored at theprint merchant computer until either successfully downloaded to theprint manager computer, or until a timeout has expired. For contentretailer computers which generate content such as maps, genealogy,charts, the content itself may be generated on demand by the contentretailer computer from data stored in a local database, upon receiving aproper GETjobURL request from the print merchant computer. Therefore,the content retailer computer may not need to increase its storagecapacity to accommodate 24 hour perishable content for on demandprinting. However, the content retailer computer may need to include acustom graphics interface for on-demand generation of content.

In step 712, the order is sent electronically to the print managercomputer from the print merchant computer. The print manager computerprocesses the order by manufacturing print products according to theorder and ships these to the end user. In step 713, the print managercomputer sends tracking message to the print merchant computer enablingtracking of the shipment of print products to the end user. The printmerchant computer relays a shipping notification message to the contentretailer computer, which can then send a shipping confirmation messagein step 715 to the customer terminal, telling the retail customer whentheir order will be shipped to the end user.

Referring to FIG. 8 herein, there is illustrated schematically how afinal quote to a customer 800, a quote to a content retailer 801 by aprint merchant, and a quote to a print merchant 802, by a print serviceprovider are made up. Quote 802 to the print merchant is made up of aprint service price charged by a print service provider, and a deliveryprice 804 charged by a courier. The delivery price 804 may itself formthe subject of a quote to a print service provider by a courier. A quote801 to a content retailer by a print merchant is made up of the quote tothe print merchant 802 comprising the print service price 803 anddelivery price 804, and additionally a print merchant price 805 chargedby the print merchant. A final quote 800 to a customer made by a contentretailer is made up of the quote to the content retailer 801, includingthe print merchant price, delivery price, and print service price, aswell as a content price 806 which is optionally included where thecontent retailer website obtains content from an independent contentprovider, and a content retailer price 807 levied by the contentretailer.

Each price comprises a cost, plus a margin or mark-up added by therelevant business. In one implementation, the final quote to thecustomer may be presented to the customer in the form of a price chargedby the content retailer, with a delivery price itemized separately tothe customer.

Referring to FIG. 9 herein, there is illustrated schematically a mode ofoperation of a content retailer computer interacting with a retailcustomer via a displayed website, accepting an order for print products,and satisfying that order by placing an order with a print merchant tosupply print products to the retail customer. In step 900, the contentretailer computer displays goods and services by posting a visualdescription of those goods and services on a webpage. A retail customer300 viewing the website through a customer terminal 121 browses thewebsite and selects print products for purchase. The customer specifiesthe goods at the customer terminal, and a description of those goods isreceived by the content retailer computer in step 901. In step 902, thecontent retailer computer requests an identification for an order from aprint merchant computer. In step 903, the content retailer computerreceives an order identification code from the print merchant computer.This order identification code identifies a particular order uniquely.Optionally, in step 904 the content retailer computer requests a quotefrom the print merchant. The request for quote includes details of theprint order itself including number of copies, media type, deliveryaddress. In step 905, the content retailer computer receives a quotefrom the print merchant after the print merchant has generated suchquote. In step 906, the content retailer computer displays a quote tothe customer terminal. The quote displayed to the customer terminal, ingeneral, differs from the quote made by the print merchant to thecontent retailer. The content retailer computer adds a cost of content,which the content retailer computer can calculate from a contract with acontent provider computer, stored in a local database of the contentretailer computer, and also adds a mark up, or premium cost charged bythe content retailer itself, to arrive at the quote to the customer. Instep 907, the content retailer computer confirms the order with thecustomer terminal, by the customer activating an order placement icondisplayed on the website and viewable via the browser on the customerterminal at the user interface 509 on the customer terminal. In step908, having received the customer order, the content retailer computersends an order to the print merchant computer. The order to the printmerchant computer which is in XML file format sent in HTTP, specifiesparameters including:

-   -   an identification of the content retailer computer    -   date    -   specification of print products    -   delivery address    -   cost

In step 909, the content retailer computer receives confirmation of itsorder from the print merchant, once the print merchant has received andaccepted that order. In step 910, the print merchant may optionallyrequest content from the content retailer computer, where a separatesource for obtaining the content has not already been specified in theorder received from the content retailer computer. Under thesecircumstances, in step 911, the content retailer computer obtainscontent from an external content provider, which the content retailerhas a contract with, or alternatively generates the content from aninternal database at the content retailer. The content is supplied tothe print merchant in step 912 by the content retailer computer. In step913, after the print merchant has arranged shipping of the printproduct, and is processing the production of the print products, theprint merchant generates a tracking message, and sends this to thecontent retailer which is received in step 913. The tracking message,which comprises an XML file and may specify details such as:

-   -   description of print products    -   confirmation of shipping address    -   a date order received    -   an approximate date of delivery.

In step 914, the tracking message may be relayed by the content retailercomputer to the customer terminal, allowing a customer to track theprogress of their shipment of print products to the end user, which maybe the customer themselves.

Referring to FIG. 10 herein, there is illustrated schematically stepscarried out by print merchant computer entity 100 according to firstmode of operation of the print merchant computer. In step 1000, theprint merchant receives requests for an order identification from acontent retailer computer. In practice, the print merchant computer willreceive a plurality of requests for order identifications from aplurality of content retail computers and will continue to receive suchorders as an ongoing process. The process referred in FIG. 10 relates todealing with one such request. In step 1001, the print merchant computergenerates a unique order identification and assigns that to the requestreceived by a particular content retailer computer. All orderidentifications are time stamped, and stored locally at the printmerchant computer. If an order is received with an outdated time stampfrom an external content retailer computer, the print merchant computerwill refuse to transact according to that ID number. In step 1003, theidentification code is sent to the content retailer computer over acommunications link.

Referring to FIG. 11 herein, there is illustrated schematically a secondmode of operation of the print merchant computer for sending a quote toa content retailer computer. In step 1100, the print merchant computerreceives a request for a quote from the content retailer computer. Therequest for quote is received in the form of an XML document, sent overHTTP. In step 1101, the print merchant computer parses data from therequest for quote, defining an order from the content retailer computer.In step 1102, the print merchant computer generates a quote request andsends this to a plurality of print service providers, which havepreviously arranged contracts with the print merchant. Alternatively, instep 1103 the print merchant may calculate a quote based on data storedin a plurality of contracts pre-stored for each of a plurality of printservice providers. In step 1104, having received quotes, or calculated aquote in accordance with a set of pre-stored contracts, the printmerchant computer selects one of the print service providers to fulfilthe order. In step 1105, the print merchant computer generates a quoteto the content retailer computer based upon the selected print serviceprovider to be used. The print service provider is not necessarilyselected on the basis of lowest cost but is selected on the basis ofavailability, delivery time, cost, and contractual provisions stored inthe contract of that print service provider with a print merchant. Instep 1105, the print merchant computer generates a quote to the contentretailer computer, based upon the price quoted by the selected printservice provider or a cost calculated in accordance with the contract ofthat print service provider. In step 1106, the print merchant sends thequote to the content retailer computer over the communications link.

Referring to FIG. 12 herein, there is illustrated schematically a thirdmode of operation of the print merchant computer entity. An order isreceived from a content retailer computer in step 1200, which is storedfor later processing by the print merchant computer in step 1201. Instep 1202, the print merchant computer reads the identification code ofthe order and checks if it is valid, The time stamp on the receivedidentification code is checked to see if the identification code hasexpired in step 1203. If the identification code is valid, then in step1204 the print merchant computer generates an order confirmation messageand sends this to the content retailer computer, to confirm receipt ofthe order. If, however, in step 1203 the identification code was foundto be invalid, then in step 1205 the print merchant computer generatesan invalid identification code message and sends this to the contentretailer computer.

Referring to FIG. 13 herein, there is illustrated schematically a fourthmode of operation of the print merchant computer for obtaining contentand sending the content to a selected print manager computer. In step1300, the received order message from the content retailer computer isread, and a content field data is read, describing an image datacontent, and an address from which to obtain the image data content. Theaddress can be the address of the content retailer computer itself, orcan be the address of a content provider computer. In step 1301, theprint merchant computer generates a request for content and sends a GETmessage to the specified content provider, or the content retailercomputer, to instruct that computer to download content over thecommunications link. In step 1302 the print merchant computer receivesthe downloaded content data from the content provider computer orcontent retailer computer as appropriate, and in step 1303 the printmerchant computer receives a “load” command from the print serviceprovider once the print service provider has accepted the order. Theprint merchant computer has a queue of content data waiting to be loadedby the print managers, which is downloaded in response to load requestsmade by the print managers. The print merchant sends the content to aprint manager computer of a selected print service provider, forproduction of print products according to that content data in step1304.

Alternatively, the print manager computer at the print service providermay obtain the content data directly from a content provider, inresponse to an address of a content provider, content owner, or contentretailer, provided by the print merchant, once the print serviceprovider has accepted an order for print products. Whenever a printmanager computer completes an operation, this is automaticallycommunicated to the print merchant computer, so that the print merchantcomputer keeps a record of a status of each order which is beingprocessed through the whole system.

Referring to FIG. 14 herein, there is illustrated schematically anOrderTicket electronic document which is used in server-to-servertransactions between computer entities. The OrderTicket comprises an XMLdocument which is submitted to the print merchant computers by one ormore content retailer computers using an HTTPS POST request.

The structure of the XML OrderTicket is illustrated schematically inFIG. 14 herein.

Referring to FIG. 15 herein, there is illustrated schematically adescription of the ordered control section comprises a version attribute1500 which identifies a version of the OrderTicket. The versionattribute identifies previous versions of OrderTickets, and allows theprint merchant computer to recognize orders received from computerentities operating current or previous versions of software. An orderidentification attribute orderID 1501 is the print merchant computersidentification of an order. A portal identification attribute portalID1502 identifies a computer entity from which an order originates. Thisinformation is also used for job tracking, and for business-to-businessaccounting. For security reasons, all computer entities dealing with aprint merchant computer will have an associated portalkey data which isused as a password for transactions. Optionally, content retailercomputers can set a customized identification customerID to anyidentification data they would like to keep track of. This may be shownon an order packing slip as a product identification. Computer entitiesdealing with a print merchant computer can also specify a custom notedata customNotes. This data may be printed in a footer of an orderpacking slip so that the packing slip can be used for gift dedications,special instructions or the like. Content retailers may set up anoptional currency field 1506, in which any quotes are converted andreported in a requested currency. Currency codes are specified asnumeric values according to ISO4217.

Referring to FIG. 16 herein, there is illustrated schematicallycomponents of field 1402 defining a section of the order ticketspecifying the characteristics of a job to be printed. The field 1402comprises a job price field 1600. The job price field defines in data anamount of money a manufactured print product will cost per copy to anend user. A job type field 1601 specifies a type of data of the printjob, and must match one of a plurality of types of data supported by theprint merchant computer. A JobURL field carries a URL suited for contentdownload. Optionally, a lower resolution image may also be provided bymeans of a PreviewURL 1603 for order submission. This may be a mediumsize preview image. The content retailer computer must give anidentifier in a ContentID field 1604, and a description of the contentin text which briefly describes the image data content inContentDescription field 1605.

Three types of image are handled, these being high resolution imagedata, used for making the actual print products; medium resolution imagedata used for previews, and a low resolution image data used for smallsized pictures (“thumbnails”), of approximately one or two centimetreswidth and height, which are printed on packing slips and work ordersheets at the print service provider. The thumbnail images can beautomatically generated by the print merchant computer based on a higherresolution image data which is provided, either the preview image data,or the higher resolution image content data.

Referring to FIG. 17 herein, there is illustrated schematically a how toprint section 1403 of the order ticket. This section specifies physicalsettings for a print job. A standard paper size can be specified througha PaperSize field 1700 multiple options for a size of paper areavailable and supported by a print merchant computer. For more generalpaper sizes, a custom paper size may be selected in custom width,customer height and custom units fields 1701-1703 respectively. A mediatype may be specified in a media type field, to define a type of mediaand/or ink requested for a print job. Multiple options for media typesare supported by the print merchant computer, as specified in differenttypes of media such as canvas, paper, plastic, material or the like.Whenever a number of requested copies is greater than 1, a copies numberfield is filled in.

Referring to FIG. 18 herein, there is illustrated schematically an ‘howand where to ship’ section 1404 of the order ticket. This sectionspecifies shipment settings for a whole order of print products. A shipname, ship address, ship zip code, ship city, ship state or province,ship country code, text or number field 1800-1806 respectively containsdata describing a delivery address for shipping of print products. AShipMethod field 1800 specifies, from a plurality of options supportedby the print merchant computer, a method of shipping an order, e.g.urgent, 1 day delivery. A ShipNotificationURL field 1807 allows acontent retailer computer to receive shipping notification from theprint merchant computer. The order ticket carries a contact email andcontent phone field 1808, 1809 respectively for listing email and phonecontact details of a customer.

Referring to FIG. 19 herein, there is illustrated schematically a modeof operation of a print service provider operation, controlled by aprint manager computer 108-110. In step 1900, the print manager computerreceives an on-line order from a print merchant computer entity. In step1901, the print manager computer receives image data content on-line. Ina best mode implementation, the image content data is received from aprint merchant computer entity. However, in an alternativeimplementation, the order sent from a print merchant may contain anaddress from which image data content may be obtained directly by theprint service provider, in which case the print service provider mayobtain image data directly from a content provider computer or otherspecified content source, by sending a content request message to thatcomputer, specifying a ContentID field and supplying appropriate keys tothe content provider computer. In addition to having a content ID, theprint manager must be authorized to access image data, and this is doneby use of keys. In step 1902, the print manager computer generates anacknowledgement of the received order from the print merchant, and sendsthis to the print merchant. In step 1903, the print merchant arranges,with the courier service, shipment of the products to one or moredelivery addresses specified in the order. Step 1903, may be carried outin parallel with other steps of the print manager described herein. Instep 1904 the print service provider produces the print products, bysending image data to one of a plurality of printer devices 111,112within that print service provider facility. Any special finishes areapplied manually, if specified in the order, in step 1905. In step 1906,the printed and finished products are sent through to a shippingdepartment of the print service provider, where shipping labels areattached to the products, and the order is packaged into an appropriatenumber of packets for shipping. In step 1907, the packaged and addressedprint products are released to a courier service, who handles deliveryof the print products to the end user, usually the retail customerthemselves, or a person specified by a retailer customer. In step 1908,the print manager computer generates a tracking data and issues this tothe print merchant computer, either by sending it as an XML message, oran email confirmation, or by making it available on a website operatedby the print manager computer.

1-31. (canceled)
 32. A method for automatic operation of an on-lineprint merchant for: (i) allowing a plurality of content retailers tooffer a plurality of print products from a plurality of contentproviders to retail customers and make a plurality of print productorders; (ii) offering a direct service to business customers forgenerating and ordering print products out of their own content; (iii)fulfilling print orders from content retailers according to item (i)above and from business customers according to item (ii) above via aplurality of print service providers each using print manager software,a plurality of printers and a plurality of couriers to deliver printproducts to retail and/or business customers; said method comprising thesteps of: supporting a transaction of an order of a first type between aretail customer and one of said plurality content retailers for supplyof at least one print product marketed by the print merchant to theretail customer; transacting an on-line order of a second type betweensaid one of said plurality of content retailers and said print merchantfor fulfillment of said first type order by said print merchant ortransacting an on-line order of a second type between said businesscustomers and said print merchant for fulfillment of business customerorders by said print merchant; and transacting an order of a third typebetween said print merchant and a selected one of a plurality printservice providers for printing and shipping said at one print product toeither said retail or business customer on the basis of the printproduct ordered by the retail or business customer pursuant to saidsecond type order.
 33. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein saidstep of supporting a transaction of an order of the first typecomprises: receiving a specification of said print products from saidretail customer, said specification comprising data selected from theset including: media size; media type; number of copies; delivery name;delivery address; ink type.
 34. The method as claimed in claim 33,wherein said step of supporting at transaction of an order of the firsttype comprises receiving a specification of said print products from acustomer terminal, in the form of an electronically transmitted datafile.
 35. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said step oftransacting an order of a second type comprises the steps: sending anorder to said print merchant, specifying details of said print products;and receiving confirmation of said order from said print merchant. 36.The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said step of sending an orderto a said print merchant comprises sending said order in the form of anelectronically transmitted data file.
 37. The method as claimed in claim32, further comprising the step of: receiving a price data from saidprint merchant.
 38. The method as claimed in claim 32, furthercomprising the step of: obtaining an electronic image data describing asaid image item; said electronic image data obtained via acommunications network; and electronically sending said electronic imagedata to said print merchant.
 39. The method as claimed in claim 32,further comprising the step of: storing an electronic contract datadescribing a contract between a content retailer operation and a printmerchant operation.
 40. The method as claimed in claim 39 wherein saidcontract defines a relationship between said content retailer operationand said print merchant operation in respect of at least one of thefollowing parameters; a definition of a print product; a specialdiscount available to a content retailer operation; a plurality ofprices for said print products.
 41. The method as claimed in claim 39further comprising the step of calculating a price data according tosaid stored electronic contract.
 42. The method as claimed in claim 32,wherein said step of transacting an order of a second type with a saidprint merchant, comprises: itemizing separately, for each of saidplurality of print service providers: a delivery price for delivery fromsaid print service provider to a delivery address; and a print price,for printing at least one print product, defined in said second ordertype.
 43. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein said step ofsupporting a transaction of an order of the first type with said retailcustomer comprises: for each of a plurality of print products:displaying, at a computer terminal, a print product price and aseparately itemized delivery cost for delivery of said print product.44. The method as claimed in claim 32, wherein print service provideroperations comprise: receiving an electronic order for at least one ofsaid plurality of print products; receiving electronically an imagecontent data corresponding to said at least one of said plurality ofprint products; transferring electronically said image content data to aprinter device, and printing an image content onto a print media toproduce said print product in fulfillment of said order.
 45. The methodas claimed in claim 44, wherein said print service provider operationsfurther comprise the step of: acknowledging receipt of said order bygeneration of an on-line message.
 46. The method as claimed in claim 44,wherein said print service provider operations further comprise thesteps of: generating a tracking message describing a status ofproduction of said order within said print service provider; and makingsaid tracking message available on-line.
 47. The method as claimed inclaim 44, wherein said print service provider operations furthercomprise the steps of: arranging shipping of said print products to adelivery address specified in said order, by sending an electronicshipping message to a courier operation.
 48. The method as claimed inclaim 32, wherein a print merchant operation occurs for matching aplurality of orders of the second type for print products, with aplurality of print service provider operations capable of fulfillingsaid order, said print merchant operation comprises the steps of:receiving a request for an order identification; issuing an orderidentification in response to said request; receiving a said order of asecond type for supply of print products; acknowledging said order;selecting a print service provider operation from said plurality ofprint service provider operations; and placing an order of the thirdtype with at least one said selected print service providers, forordering supply of said print products.
 49. The method as claimed inclaim 48 further comprising the steps of: issuing a request to a remotecomputer entity, for download of image data content from said remotecomputer entity; and
 50. A method of operating a print service providerfacility comprising: receiving an electronic order for a plurality ofprint products; receiving electronically an image content data; andtransferring electronically said image content to a printer device, andprinting an image content onto a print media to produce said printproduct in fulfillment of said order.
 51. The method as claimed in claim50, further comprising the step of: acknowledging receipt of said orderby generation of an on-line message.
 52. The method as claimed in claim50, further comprising the steps of: generating a tracking messagedescribing a status of production of said order within said printservice provider; and making said tracking message available on-line.53. The method as claimed in claim 50, further comprising the steps of:arranging shipping of said print products to a delivery addressspecified in said order, by sending an electronic shipping message to acourier operation.
 54. A method of operating a print merchant operationfor matching a plurality of orders of a second type for print products,with a plurality of print service provider operations capable offulfilling said order, said method comprising the steps of: receiving arequest for an order identification; issuing an order identification inresponse to said request; receiving an order of said second type forsupply of print products; acknowledging said order; selecting a printservice provider operation from said plurality of print service provideroperations; placing an order of a third type with at least one saidselected print service provider, for ordering supply of said printproducts.
 55. The method as claimed in claim 54 further comprising thesteps of: receiving a request for a quotation for fulfilling said secondtype order; generating a quotation for fulfilling said second typeorder; sending said quotation for fulfilling said second type order to acontent retailer remote computer entity.
 56. The method as claimed inclaim 54 further comprising the steps of: receiving a tracking messagefrom said selected print service provider, containing data describing astatus of printed products subject of said send type order; and makingsaid tracking message available to a computer entity originating saidsecond type order.
 57. The method as claimed in claim 54 furthercomprising the steps of: issuing a request to a remote computer entity,for download of image data content from said remote computer entity; andreceiving said image data content in response to said request.
 58. Themethod as claimed in claim 54 wherein in response to said event ofreceiving a said order of a second type, carrying out the steps of:checking a time stamp of an identification code of said order against apredetermined timeout period; if said time stamp is expired, rejectingsaid order; if said time stamp is expired, notifying a sender of saidorder that said time stamp is invalid.
 59. The method as claimed inclaim 54 further comprising the step of: determining a quote to acontent retailer operation in accordance with said stored electroniccontract between said content retailer operation and said print merchantoperation.
 60. The method as claimed in claim 54, wherein said step ofselecting a print service provider operation from said plurality ofprint service provider operations is carried out by selecting a saidprint service provider operation on the basis of stored electroniccontract data between said print merchant operation and said printservice provider operation.
 61. The method as claimed in claim 54,wherein said step of selecting a print service provider operation fromsaid plurality of print service provider operations comprises: selectinga said print service provider on the basis of a final price, where thefinal price is itemized as a print price and a delivery price.
 62. Atleast one computer entity configured for: receiving electronically, aplurality of orders of a second type, for supply of at least one printproduct; selecting a print service provider operation from a pluralityof print service provider operations; and placing at least one order ofa third type with at least one selected said print service provider forordering supply of said at least one print product.